Some people are just destined for success…and J is absolutely one of those people. He crazy smart, balanced, self-disciplined, seems to know what he wants out of life…and while he certainly has all sorts of reasons why he could be…he’s not too cool to admit that he loves his mom! What a great guy! I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with him while we were shooting. J – I have a strong suspicion that you are going to accomplish amazing things in your life…and I hope that Stanford (or Cambridge if that door flies open) will be all that you imagine it to be…and more. They’re lucky to have you!

I have a ridiculous amount of catching up to do…blogging, editing, ordering, etc. I can’t wait to share with you many of the fun images from my Focus Workshop last weekend. We had 27 models for the workshop…and while I sadly did not get to shoot all of them myself…I did get to shoot most of them, so there are a bazillion images to share from that…as well as a crazy backload of sneak peeks. So…there should be a lot of activity around this blog here in the next few weeks…so keep checking back!

‘Til Next Time!
S

Senior Photographer Arizona | Senior Photographer Phoenix | Senior Photographer Scottsdale | Senior Photographer Paradise Valley

Senior Day Part I … Focus Photography Workshop

I am continually amazed…after every workshop that I teach…at what wonderful people I am blessed to meet. Every single workshop has been filled with women who are kind, passionate about what they do, fun, happy, and genuinely nice people…I feel refreshed and inspired myself after just being around them all weekend. The past three days have been filled with busy…and I’m exhausted…but, it’s a good exhaustion. I am completely humbled to have just spent the last three days with such amazing people…sharing the same enthusiasm over something that I love so very much…photography. This is just one quick post of many, many more to come of the fabulous models that we were so blessed to shoot. There were 27 models total…and what an amazing group of kids they all were. I am beyond blessed!

A – You are charming, handsome, ridiculously photogenic, and just an all around great guy! Thanks for suffering through being the only guy model today…amidst a group of gorgeous girls…I know that it must have been extremely difficult for you…poor guy…LOL!

Be Back Soon!
S

Phoenix Senior Photographer | Phoenix High School Senior Photographer | Arizona Senior Photography
Scottsdale Senior Photography | Scottsdale Senior Photographer | Urban Senior Photographer

Oh Miss B…you are stunning…and so much fun…and have such a bright outlook on life. It was fun to hang out with you…and to get to know you…I hope that all of your dreams come true and that your mom and dad’s hearts don’t crumble into a million pieces when you head off to college. I have a feeling there are amazing things in store for you!

I still have a few March and early April openings for High School Senior Photo Sessions for 2010. But, there are only a few left for this year…so if you are needing a senior session this year call or email quickly to secure a spot. They won’t last long.

‘Til Next Time!
S

Phoenix Senior Photography | Scottsdale Senior Photography | Gilbert Senior Photography
Phoenix Senior Portraits | Scottsdale Senior Portraits | Gilbert Senior Portraits
Urban Senior Photography

You know those sitcom episodes where the TVGuide description will read ‘Dual Plots’? Well…this is kind of a dual plot post. Bear with me…

Last week I had a session in the late afternoon and we had to do a little switcheroo with the kids & cars in order to make things work. Being a full time photographer and a taxi driver to four busy boys is sometimes a bit of a challenge…but, my hubby is always jumping in to be the hero when the schedule gets a little crazy…and that night he decided to leave work a little early, meet up with me before my session, grab the boys, and take them bowling. Yay dad! We weren’t really sure how my four year old would react to this idea since the only other time he’d been in a bowling alley was about a year ago…when he flip-flopped back and forth between a blood curdling screaming banshee and a comatose vegetable, lying on the wood floor, staring up at the ceiling near the ball return. AHHH the memories…

But, this time was completely different…his enthusiasm for going to the bowling alley could only be matched by his enthusiasm for Chuggington and Cinnamon Toast Crunch…and so we were cautiously optimistic. I was a little sad that I was going to miss his first time bowling…but as it turned out…instead of getting a lane, my hubby got a beeping coaster and was told it would be an hour wait. So…the men headed for wings and I got there just after the coaster lit up and just before my BABY tossed his first little four pound ball down the lane. And 14 minutes later…it hit a couple pins. And you have never seen a group of people go from sane to completely whacked out in such record time. You would have thought he had just won the Gold Medal of Bowling. There was more excitement than the first time he went on the big boy potty.

And so…although I typically refrain from posting personal snapshots on the blog…I couldn’t resist sharing a few from one of my proudest mommy moments. I love that guy!

And the dual plot of this post is to let you (photographers) know about a fabulous new set of actions by MCP Actions. Jodi does an amazing job of creating actions that speed up the workflow. I get asked a lot if I use actions to process my work, and the answer is no…I don’t, other than my own that I’ve created…however, occasionally there will be actions that speed up certain mundane processes and in this case, Jodi has not only succeeded at that, but she’s surpassed anything I’ve seen out there that does something similar.

Her new FINISH IT Action Set gives you a TON of options for preparing your images for the web. You have various sizing options, border options, framing options, edge options…there are 35 finishing touches to choose from. Every one of the FINISH IT actions do all of the work for optimizing your image for your blog…AND each one is completely customizable to fit your brand. You can also automatically place your logo or watermark within the images. It’s designed to be a huge time saver for photographers. I think she hit a major home run with this set…and at less than the cost of a meal at The Cheesecake Factory (I know this from first hand experience this weekend…) you can free up valuable time preparing your images for the web. So…check it out…and be sure to click on the thumbnail gallery to see all of the samples that this set offers. These fun rounded frames that I used in this post are included in the set.

‘Til Next Time!
S

So now it’s the seniors turn! I realize that this is very last minute, but my hubby whisked me off for a little staycation for Valentine’s weekend…sans computer. So…at the mercy of the hotel media room I’m being permitted 15 quick working minutes to post what should have been posted yesterday.

I need to fill 2 more model positions for the workshop…but, this time it’s for High School Seniors only. Well…Seniors or Juniors…I’m such a rule breaker.

The models for this portion of the workshop will be needed on Sunday, February 21st from 10am until 1pm in the Gilbert, AZ area. Full location details will be emailed to those who are selected to participate.

If you…or your child…or someone else that you know would be interested in applying…please fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION by 5pm TOMORROW evening…February 14th. The seniors who are selected will be notified tomorrow evening by 9pm.

Thanks all! I’m headed back to all things romantical now…
S